BUILDING THE FOUNDATION TO LEAD INNOVATION

Through dedicated international Partners, the first phase of the Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR) has been a catalyst in delivering change in low- and middle-income countries. A dynamic strategy has been established based on input from key stakeholders. The common vision puts forward a focused and committed plan of action to improve the quality of data and the use of essential information sources for cancer control.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE:

Six regional centres have been established within a unified framework to provide training and support and to foster networks for cancer registries in all regions of the world.

Experts have visited 36 countries to assess the current status of cancer registration and the potential for change.

More than 20 regional courses have been delivered to train more than 400 registry staff, including previously underserved populations, such as the first-ever Russian-language event hosted in Kazakhstan.

REGIONAL EXPANSION

In its next phase, GICR will be focused on scaling up country-level activities pertaining to cancer registration. To achieve this, assessments of all remaining countries in each region will be completed by the respective Hubs, to formulate a set of recommendations to act on. For countries previously visited by experts and with signed agreements, structured reporting of progress against plans will continue. Investments will enable work to progress in 20 low- and middle-income countries by 2020 and a further 30 by 2025. Each step will further reduce disparities in cancer information.

Another priority will be knowledge transfer. A unique aspect to enhance regional training courses will be the availability of consultancy support to registries as a personalized resource to overcome issues. New approaches being pursued in distance learning and improving access to reference materials will provide vital information to even the lowest-resource countries.

The involvement of target countries as part of the solution will continue. A key area will be to seek engagement in the formation of regional networks, especially to nurture relationships between registries and areas of cancer control.
Investments in GICR will equip leaders in cancer control with the information needed to reduce the number of avoidable deaths and the suffering due to cancer worldwide.